People in extreme need

The recent decision of the Colorado Springs City Council to criminalize sleeping in cars was a very bad one. Car represent the last place of security, the last “home”, for unhoused people. They are a significant piece of personal property – or as a home, more like real property, in a sense.

What is the nature of the problem? Probably mostly messiness on a “public” street (public street – a street for all?) – the worst part of that messiness being no access to a bathroom (as is the case for most homeless people).

Certainly, on a quiet cul-de-sac, local homeowners might not want somebody camping out long term in a car in front of their houses. Conversely, for all unhoused people, security is of great concern; and a car provides much more security than sleeping out on the bare ground.

If the city would really like to deal with the propblem of people sleeping in their cars, I would suggest the following: that the city deveop a parking are exclusively dedicated to folks with no other home but their cars. It would not be a regular parking lot, but one with much more space for the individual car. Most imprtantly it would feature safe bathroom facities. Ideally, it would be more like a campground, with space around the parking spot, maybe even including a picnic table. It would need to be patrolled; and well-lit enough for safety – although not so well-lit to keep people awake. No criminal behavior would be tolerated – just as criminal behavior is not tolerated in nice neighborhoods.

Your objection? Why should we do this, it’s such an expense – and a give-away?
Indeed; but it’s a way of taking care of the problems associatedwithcar camping that have resulted in its criminalization. It’s taking care of people in extreme need.

Ideally, it might be located next to the equally secure and well-facilitated “tents-only” campground for those who must sleep with only a tent, if that, for protection. And not far from the “community center” for people to spend time in especially on cold days – rather than the library or the streets.

It is not solving the problem of homelessness to criminal all behavior associated with it. A much better solution would be to mitigate the suffering of homelessness in an organized and well-controlled way.

Steve Morath

Manitou Springs

Who makes these decisions?

Who makes decisions about school closures at UCCS, District 11, District 20 or other public schools in Colorado Springs? What is the daily payroll, faculty and staff, at local public institutions? Why should the public support these decisions? We had 2 inches of snow with good roads yesterday and there were closures. We live in Colorado. Shouldn’t we act like it? At one time, we would only experience closures with 8 – 12 inches of snow or blizzard conditions.

Randall E. Kouba

Colorado Springs

In support of Jeff Crank

I would like to thank letter writer Pierce Gillard for reaffirming my support of Jeff Crank. Everything that the writer criticized about Crank is the reason why I will continue to vote for Jeff Crank.

For example, Gillard’s talking points are direct from the mouths of Hakkeem Jefferies and Chuck Schumer and have nothing directly to do with Jeff Crank. For example, the desire to link Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein had already been tried during the fours years of Democrat Party control in Washington (The Golden Age of Democrat Party Corruption.). The result? There were too many Democrats involved with Epstein to investigate further.

In addition, Gillard states that Trump is illegally using war powers, etc, ad nauseum. Gillard is simply repeating used up talking points without an understanding of the Presidential War Powers for the last three decades.

Mike Menza

Colorado Springs

A life of dedication, service

After watching the funeral service of the Reverend Jesse Jackson today, I was struck by the enormous dedication and sacrifice that he made throughout his life to the world. He dedicated his life to making the country better through advocating for a population of people who needed a voice. Reverend Jackson provided service to both our country and the world through his activism, leadership, morality, and international diplomacy.

Meanwhile, our current President appears to see his “service” as an opportunity to enhance his own life through wealth and power. His selfishness takes precedence over serving the disadvantaged and underserved. He spends much of his time trying to diminish others while boasting of his own accomplishments.

The racism and challenges that Jesse Jackson endured throughout his life did not stop him from working to empower the Black community. During an era of rampant racism, sexism, antisemitism, homophobia, and xenophobia, Jesse Jackson worked to encourage equality for all. He built coalitions rather than walls.

Although I did not agree with all that Reverend Jackson supported, his activism was accomplished in a dignified and respectful way. He would have disagreed with me without belittling me. He encouraged dialogue rather than clashing. He focused on unifying rather than dividing.

In addition to being a successful civil rights activist promoting change for the Black community, he demonstrated that working for change can be accomplished without violence or divisiveness. Our current leadership would be wise to adopt many of his strategies to impact and improve this country. RIP Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Steve Rauch

Colorado Springs